 |
|
African league roundup [Tue Sep 20th, 2005]
Johannesburg (Reuters) - A roundup of league action from around Africa:
EGYPT
Emad Moateb scored on the stroke of half-time to give Al Ahli a fifth successive win of the season and stretch their lead in the league on Monday night.
Al Ahli beat Aluminium 1-0 to extend their unbeaten run to 44 matches over the last 15 months. Ahli now lead by five points from second placed Zamalek, who play on Tuesday.
Al Ahli and Zamalek meet on Sunday in the first leg of their African Champions League semi-final tie.
IVORY COAST
ASEC Abidjan made sure of a sixth successive title in the Ivory Coast without much fanfare on Sunday, moving into an unassailable lead after beating Stella Abidjan 2-0. ASEC's haul of 60 points from 24 matches cannot be overtaken with two rounds of the season remaining.
It was a record breaking 21st title for ASEC, whose plans for a midweek party were derailed by a surprise defeat by second-placed Africa Sports on Wednesday.
But ASEC made no mistake on Sunday with a goal from Maglorie Desire Kouame on the stroke of half-time and a second from Abderamane Diaby in the 69th minute.
ZAMBIA
ZANACO have won a third title in four years, coming from behind to get the point they needed to make sure of the premier league title against Power Dynamos. Zanaco moved to an unassailable 13-point lead with three games left to play.
Dynamos were 2-0 up on the stroke of half-time but ZANACO, who have lost just one match in 27 league outings this season, fought back with goals from Numba Mumamba and then equalised in stoppage time through veteran striker Cosmas Banda.
ZESCO United moved second above Dynamos after beating relegated Chilanga Heroes 1-0 with a penalty from Leonard Silungwe.
CAMEROON
Coton Sport scored three goals in the last 20 minutes to come from two goals down and beat Union Douala 3-2, moving to within one win of a fourth title in five years. The winner came from Hamadou Soussia as Coton Sport moved to 64 points with five matches to play.
Only Sahel Maroua, who have six games to go, can catch them and they kept their remote hopes alive with a 1-0 home win over Kadji Sports Academy.
Sahel host Coton Spoort at home in the next round of matches on September 28.
Second-placed Foudre Akonlinga's last hopes went with a 1-1 home draw against Unisport Bafang. Foudre and Sahel, separated only by goal difference, are now expected to be involved in a tough tussle for the runners-up position and a berth in next year's African Champions League.
SOUTH AFRICA
Orlando Pirates regained the leadership of the premier league on Sunday but had to come from behind to draw 2-2 at Silver Stars. Substitute Solomon Mathe equalised seven minutes from time to give Pirates the lead on goal difference from Kaizer Chiefs and Ajax Cape Town, who all have 11 points.
Ajax were beaten 2-0 at Tembisa Classic, while Chiefs' scheduled game with Mamelodi Sundowns on Sunday was postponed as a legal tussle wrangled over the weekend.
Chiefs were ordered to play the game behind closed doors because of recent crowd violence, but successfully appealed the case to a high court judge in Johannesburg.
TUNISIA
Club Africain had their lead in the first division cut to just a single point after drawing 1-1 at home with Stade Tunisien.
African Champions League semifinalists Etoile Sahel won 2-0 with Marouane Bokri and Emeka Opara scoring in a home win over champions CS Sfaxien as they moved into joint second place with Esperance, who scored two early goals in a 2-1 triumph at AS Marsa.
US Monastir dropped to fourth place after being held to a 0-0 draw at home by Etoile Kram.
MOROCCO
Wydad Casablanca, Hassania Agadir and the unheralded Moghreb Tetouan all won a second game of the season to take up the early leadership of the league.
Wydad won 2-1 away at Difaa El Jaidad with goals from Ahmed Talbi and Oumensour Khalil. Hassania Agadir were 1-0 winners over Ittihad Khemisset while Tetouan were surprise 2-1 winners at Chabab Mohammedia.
Meanwhile, defending champions Royal Armed Forces won their first game of the season, as Najdi got the only goal of the game away at Omnsiport Meknes.
ALGERIA
Former champions Mouloudia Alger won their first game of the season, beating Mouloudia Oran 3-1 on Sunday to lift themselves off the foot of the table.
CA Batna went top of the standings last Thursday with a third successive victory, winning 1-0 away at CS Constantine.
Chabab Belouizdad went second, two points behind after beating USM Blida 2-1 at home.
The scheduled match between champions USM Alger and last season's runners-up JS Kabylie was postponed to October 3 because of political electioneering for an upcoming national referendum in Algeria on a partial amnesty for hundreds of Islamic militants.
NIGERIA
Enugu Rangers stretched their lead to nine points with a 1-0 home with Nasarawa United. Defender Ugo Ifeanyi scored the only goal of the game in the 26th minute.
Enyimba, bundled out of the African Champions League last weekend, drew 1-1 at relegation-threatened Gateway United to remain second, but have four games in hand over the leaders.
Iwuanyanwu Nationale are third, level on 46 points with Enyimba, after they won at home against Julius Berger.
ANGOLA
Petro Luanda were held to a surprise 1-1 draw at home by relegation-threatened Atletico Namibe, missing out on an opportunity to create a three-way tie at the head of the GiraBola standings.
Petro remain two points behind leaders AS Aviacao and Sagrada Esperanca, who both won.
Chino scored the only goal for Sagrada in their win over Progresso Sambizanga, while fellow Angolan international Love was the author of a 55th-minute goal which ensured a 1-0 win for As Aviacao over Primeiro Maio in Luanda.
ZIMBABWE
Ailing Dynamos, the country's most popular club, lifted themselves out of the relegation zone with a 2-0 home win over Hwange. Goals from Esau Amis and Zambian import Clive Mwale ensured only the sixth win of the season for Dynamos, who moved up two places from second-from-bottom.
There was no movement at the top of the table, as runaway leaders CAPS United met fellow Zimbabweans Highlanders in a friendly in Bradford, England.
News headlines from around the world.